Automatic locking elevator



March 25, 1930. A'. w. MCKENZIE AUTOMAT I C LOCK I NG ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1928 D Fig 2 TTORNEY March 25, 1930. A. W. Mc 1,751,644

AUTOMA'IT C LOCKING ELEVATOR Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A/exanqg'WiMm/e Patented Mar. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER MCKENZIE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON AUTOMATIC LOCKING ELEVATOR Application filed July 3, 1928. Serial No. 290,208.

The invention is an elevator with a plurality of compartments that may readily be installed in, or attached to, the wall of a building in such a manner that objects may be placed into but not removed from the compartments from the exterior and removed from the interior,,while at the same time other objects may be placed into the device from the exterior.

The object of the invention is to provide a delivery device into which a plurality'of parcels may be placed from the exterior at different times and only removed from the interior. Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide an elevator which will automatically lock as it moves downward to prevent it from moving upward.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a delivery elevator which is provided with air cushions to retard the downward movement. E

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic locking delivery elevator which may readily be installed in the wall of a building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a delivery elevator with air cushions at r the sides in which the cushions are provided with a bypass to equalizethe pressure and a common escape valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a delivery elevator having a combination of a counterweight and compression chambers forretarding the downward movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic locking'delivery elevator in which the parts are readily installed 40 and readily removable.

.And a still further object of the invention is to provide an automaticlocking delivery elevator which is of an economical and 'S-Imple construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a. vertically slidable elevator having a plurality of compartments, air cylinders for retarding the downward movement of the elevator, locking-dogs for preventing the up-' ward movement of the elevator except when counterweight, an opening to permit parcels to be placed into the individual compartments of-the elevator from the exterior of a wall'in which the device may be placed, releasable means for holding the elevator at the exterior and an opening to permit the removal of articles from the interior. f

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the device as it would appear from the interior with the upper portion of the wall removed to show the interior of the device.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View with parts broken away to show the construction of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the wall showing the lower shelf of the elevator with parts broken away showing a latch for holding the elevator upward and also looking dogs for preventing the elevator moving upward.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the base for holding the lower end of one of the compression chambers and parallel rods.

Figure 5 is a view showing a latch of an alternate design forholding the elevator.

v Figure 6 is a detail showing another alternate design of a latch for holding the elevator.

Figure 7 is a view showing the outside of the device with a portion broken away-showing the latch shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail showing the construction of a piston.

Figure 9 is a detail showing the construction at the upper end of the parallel rods whereby the: rods may readily be removed.

In the drawings the device is shown as it would be made, wherein numeral 1 indicates the movable elevator frame, numeral 2a doorl, at the entry opening at the extrior of a wall in which the device "may be located and nu meral 3 a door at the exit opening at the interior of the wall.

The elevator frame 1 is made with a base i space between the bottom 4 and shelf 9 is greater than the space between the upper shelves. This is necessary because when the elevator is first released it will drop a short distance before building up compression in the chambers enough to hold it; whereas after this compression has been built up the elevator will move downward very. slowly, and when it is released from the second shelf the drop is hardly noticeable. Should a very heavy weight be placed in the first compartment of the elevator, or upon the bottom it may drop the distance of one of the short shelves before the compression is built up suflicient to hold it, so that it is necessary to space the first shelf a larger distance than the remaining shelves. The endsof the base 4 extend outward as shown in Figure 2 and fibre rollers 10 which are mounted in bearings 11 are mounted upon the extended ends of the base 4 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and vertical rods 12 pass between these rollers. The bearings 11 may be attached to the base by bolts 13 which pass through enlarged holes 14 in the bearings so that the hearings will have a slight lateral movement to compensate for unevenness of the rod 12. Similar rollers as indicated by the numeral 15 are mounted in bearings 16 at the upper end ofthe elevator as shown in Figure 2 and the rods 12 pass between these rollers as shown. The bearings 16 may also be provided with enlarged openings similar to the openings 14 so that they will also have a slight lateral movement. In the design shown the rollers 15 are made of fibre and curved to fit the rods, however it is understood that these rollers may be made, of any suitable material and of any suitable design and may be arranged in any suitable manner.

The bearings 11 are provided with locking dogs 17 as shown in Figure 3which are pivotally mounted on pins 18 and positioned to engage the rods 12 as shown so that they will permit the device to move downward on the rods but will grip the rods to prevent the device moving upward. The dogs are resiliently held in the locking position by springs 19, the upper ends of which are attached to the sides of the elevator frame by pins 20. The dogs are also provided with a connection 21 to a lever 22 so that their outer ends may be pulled downward 'to release them from gripping engagement with the rods which will permit the elevator to move upward from the interior. These dogs may be placed at both sides of the device or at either side as may be desired. Thesedogs are purposely omitted in Figure .2 so that it is possible to illustrate the shape of the rollers 10.

The rods 12 may be threaded into blocks 23 at the bottom and extend into openings in a beam 24 at the top as shown in Figure 9. These rods are provided with nuts 25 and locknuts 26 to hold their upper ends in the beam 24, and it will be seen that these nuts may be screwed. down on the rods and the rods unscrewed at the bottom so that their upper ends may pass up into the openings in the beam 24 to receive them.

The ends of the member 7 also extend outward and rods 27 which form piston rods are connected to them as shown and these rods extend downward into compression chambers formed in cylinders 28. The lower ends of the rods are provided with pistons 29 having relief check valves 30 in them which permit the pistons to readily move upward but which will close and retard the downward movement. The valves 30 are formed by leather washers held by thin spring steel plates 31 as shown in Figure 8 and it will be seen that as the pistons move upward the valves will be opened, but as soon as they start downward they will close instantly. It is understood that these pistons may be of any suitable design and may be provided with v alves of any suitable type or the valves may be located in any part of the cylinder or cylinder base. The lower ends of the cylinders 28 are threaded into the blocks 23 as shown in Figure 4 and at the ends of the cylinders are chambers which are provided with shoulders against which the cylinders are screwed with felt washers 32 between the ends of the cylinders arid shoulders to insure against leakage. The blocks 23 are also provided with drain openings 33 having nipples 34 with caps 35 at the outer ends to seal the openings. It will be observed, however, that the caps may be removed to drain the cylinders if desired. It will also be observed'that the rods 12 and cylinders 28 at each side are mounted in independent bases which will permit the use of the device in any type of wall or between studding of diflerent centers. These bases are, however, connected by a bypass formed of a rubber hose 36 connected at the points 37. and provided with avalve 38 having an escape opening 39 therein. The valve will permit a continuous opening between the two cylinders and make it possible to regulate the amount of air escaping through the opening 39. The hose 36 may be supplied longer than necessary so that it may be used with elevators of a different width without changing. The rods 27 may be spliced as shown at 4,0 in Figure 2 where a small portion of one of the rods is shown on a larger scale with part broken away The lower section of the rod is provided with a threaded stud 41 which screws into a threaded opening in the lower end of the upper section of the rod. Both sections of the rods may be provided with openings 42 through which pins may be placed to rotate the sections.

The door 2 is positioned at the outer side of the opening in the outer wall and in the lower part of this opening is .a latch 43 with atongue 44 extending from it so that it may be placed by a lever 48 as shown in Figure 5 orany other suitable means may be used which will extend into the elevator shaft and may be readily withdrawn. In the design shown in Figure 5 the lever 48 is pivotally mounted on a pin 49 and one end is provided with a roller 50 which is similar to the roller 46 and .the other end provided with a handle 51 b which thelever may readily be operated to withdraw the roller. A latch as shown in Figure 6 may also be provided, which will make it possible to reduce the thickness of the outer wall or panel. 'In this design the frame is made with a T bar 52 having a roller 53 mounted in a slidable bar 54and the bar 54 is slidably mounted-in a clip 56 and a pin 57 with a ring 58 in the head is attached to the upper side which extends throu h a slot 59 so that the latch may be grippe and pulled backward to release the elevator shelves. The spring will return the latch to the position shown in Figure 6 as soon as theshelf passes and the ring 58 is released.

The inside of the wall may be provided with a paneled frame as indicated by the numeral 60 in which the door 3 may be mounted and the upper part of the frame may be pro,- yided with a removable panel 61 'so that one may have access to the operating mechanism from the interior. It is undertsood, however,

that the door and panel may be of any suitable design and arran ed in any suitable manner.

At the center 0 the top of. the elevator is a ring 62 to which a cord '63 may be attached and the cord 63 passes upward over pulleys 64 and 65 and then downward so that a counterweight as indicated by the dotted lines 66 in Figure 1 maybe attached to it. It is understood that this counterweight may be of any suitable type and may be attached to the elevator in any other suitable manner.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, one.

of which changes may be in the design of the elevator, another may be in the use of other means for mounting the elevator to 'permit it to slide downward and upward,

another may be. in the use of other means for retarding the downward movement and still another may be in the use of other locking means for. automatically preventing the up- I ward movement of the elevator.

use the-device may .be installed in a wall so that the door ,2 will bepositioned on the outer side and the door 3 on the inner side. The

device may be used in apartments with the door 2 in the hallway and the door 3 opening into the apartment or may also be used in residences or any suitable type of building. The device is particularly adaptable for deliveries where one store delivers objects and then at a later 'time another store delivers objects and then a third store may also make a delivery to the same house, and at the same time it will be impossible for the person making each subsequent delivery to remove articles left by the former deliveries.

The device will normally remain in the up-- per position and the person making the dey livery will open the door 2, will place the objects upon the bottom 4 and will then release the latch 43 by the knob 47 so that the roller 46 will be withdrawn, the person making the delivery will then close the door 2.

.As soon as the roller 46 is withdrawn the elevator will move downward slightly, and as the pistons 29 move downward they will build up compression in the cylinder 28 and the downward movement will be controlled by the amount of air escapin through the opening 39. As soon as the E the latch 43 the roller 46 will move outward and engage the next shelf so that the next shelf will rest upon it and the elevator will be held in this position so that wil nthenext delivery is made and the door 2" opened, the objects delivered by the former delivery will be down below the shelf so that it will be impossible for them to be removed from the outside and it will be impossible to raise the elevator as the dogs 17 will grip the rods 12 and prevent the elevator being moved upward.

The objects of the second delivery may then be placed-upon the shelf-9 and the latch 43 again released to permit the elevator being dropped downward until the next shelf engages the roller 46. This operation may then be repeated as many times as may be desired ottom 4 passes by.

shelves as maybe desired may ion be made to the same house or apartment while -the person living'therein is'away or otherwise engaged without any articles being stolen from a former delivery and after each delivery is made the articles delivered will be positively locked to the exterior.

'It is also understood that the device may be arranged for any other use other than being used in residences or apartments.

Having thus fully described the invention,-

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic locking elevator of the class described, a vertically movable carrier, a frame inclosing the said carrier, having an inlet opening at one side and anoutlet opening at the other and positioned below the said inlet, a counterweight attached to the said carrier, means for retarding the downward-movement of the said carrier, means for holding the said carrier at difierent elevations, said holding means being releasable from the inlet opening ofthe frame and (hambers connected withthe shelves, retarding the movement thereof, a counterbalance connected to the shelves, suitable releasable means for preventing the shelves moving in one direction, and means for equalizing the pressure in the said compression chambers.

4. In a device of the characters described, a plurality of slidable shelves, means for holding the shelves at a certain point, compression chambers connected with the shelves for retarding the movement thereof, a counterweight connected to the shelves, suitable releasable means for preventing the shelves moving in one direction, means for equalizing the pressure in the said compression chambers, and means for'regulating the amount of air escaping from the compression chambers to regulate the movement of the shelves. .5. In a device of the classdescribed, a car? rier having a plurality of compartments, parallel rods betweenwhich the said carrier is slidably mounted, suitable rollers on the said carrier engaging the said parallel rods, suitable locking dogs cooperating with the said rollers positioned to prevent the carrier moving in one direction except when the dogs are released, means for releasing the dogs, suitable holding means for the said carrier adaptable to engage and hold each compartment thereof, air compression chambers adaptable to cooperate with the said carrier, suitable pistons and piston rods connecting the sa1d carrier to the said compression chambers, relief valves in the said compression chambers to permit the shelves to move' in one direction, adjustable means connecting the said chambers to equalize the pressure therein, an adjustable relief valve in the said connecting means adaptable to regulate the escapement from the said chambers, suitable individual bases at one end of the said compression chambers in which the parallel rods on the respective sides of the carrier are mounted,

and a counterweight suitably connected to.

the said carrier.

6. In a device of the class described, a carrier having a plurality of compartments, parallel rods between which the said carrier is to equalize the pressure therein, an adjustable relief valve in the said connecting means adaptable to regulate the escapement in the said chambers, suitable individual bases at one end of the said compression chambers in which the parallel rods on the respective sides of the carrier are mounted, a counterweight suitably connected to the said carrier, said connecting rods being spliced so that they 'are readily removable;

7, In a device of the class described, a carrier having a plurality of compartments, parallel rods between which the said carrier-is slidably mounted, suitable rollers on the said 'carrierengaging the said parallel rods, suitable locking dogs cooperating with the said rollers positioned to prevent the carrier moving in one direction except when the dogs are released, means for releasing the dogs, suitable holding means for the said carrier adaptable to engage and hold each compartment thereof, air compression chambers adaptable to cooperate with the said carrier. suitable pistons and piston rods connecting the said carrier to the said compression chambers, adjustabl means connecting the said chambers to o: alize the pressure therein, an adjustabL-g i rei'ef valve in the said connecting means adaptable to regulate the escapement from the said chambers, a counterweight suitabl connected to the said carrier, and means cooperatingfivith the roller for preventing the upward movement of the said carrier.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALEXANDER W. MCKENZIE. 

